“So, you’re a Voice Over Actor… what’s that like?”
If you are a voice over actor, you’ve likely encountered this scenario many times.
From my window cleaner to my dentist, a distant relative to some random guy I met at a beer festival, they all want to know more.
“What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a…I work in voiceover…I am a voiceover artist…erm I’m a voice over actor”
The responses vary but they’re generally along the lines of “cool! like cartoons?”.
Over 20 years ago I was an actor in theatre and had similar experiences (nearly always with cab drivers) “oh right, have you been in Eastenders”.
The real work of a voice over actor is often surprising
The general public’s understanding of voice acting often begins and ends with cartoons and celebrity impersonations. While these are certainly facets of the profession, the reality is far more expansive. Many people are unaware of the vast range of voice-over work, from commercials and audiobooks to corporate narrations and e-learning modules. The skill and dedication required to bring scripts to life, adapt to different styles, and maintain vocal health often go underappreciated. This lack of understanding can lead to misconceptions about the profession’s accessibility and financial viability, sometimes trivializing the hard work and expertise involved.
For example, my window cleaner jumped straight to “oh yeah I’ve always fancied doing that, I can do loads of silly voices.”
Believe it or not, being a voice-over actor rarely involves doing silly voices. For my work it’s generally gentle variations or my own voice. If you are interested you can find loads of examples on my voiceover services pages.
Being a voice over actor is a job of listening rather than talking
Surprised? It’s the truth. While the final product is your voice, the foundation of a successful performance lies in actively listening and interpreting. Here’s what it means:
- Understanding the Script: A voice actor must deeply understand the script’s nuances, tone, and intended message. This requires careful reading and listening to any directorial notes to fully grasp the context and desired emotions.
- Connecting with the Character or Message: Whether voicing a cartoon character or narrating a documentary, a voice actor needs to connect with the material on an emotional level. This involves listening to their instincts and intuition to deliver an authentic and engaging performance.
- Responding to Direction: A voice actor must be receptive to feedback and direction from clients or directors. This requires active listening and the ability to adapt their performance accordingly, sometimes making subtle changes to achieve the desired outcome.
- Collaborating with Others: Voice acting often involves working with a team, including sound engineers, producers, and other actors. Effective communication and collaboration require attentive listening to ensure everyone is on the same page.
In essence, being a voice-over actor involves much more than just having a good voice. It’s about using your listening skills to interpret, connect, and collaborate, ultimately delivering a performance that resonates with the audience and fulfills the project’s objectives.
Do you do voiceover work every day?
Well, yes most days there is an element of recording and editing but today I’ve nothing that involves a microphone or script. It’s the summer as I write this and like many freelancers, once we remember that it always goes quiet during August, we spend this time in planning and preparation. I’ve a number of projects starting next week in including a game and a documentary narration. So, to be honest I welcome the break and am happy to have some vocal rest time. I also run a number of other voiceover related projects including Voiceover Index.